Method of winding a coil spring on a spool



Oct. 27', 1964 v; K HOLDEN;

METHGD 0E" WINDING A COILv SPRING ON A SPOOL Filed Feb. 26, 1962 NMX ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,153,849 METHD F WINDING A COUJ SPRING 0N A SPOOL Vernon Ii. Holden, Greensboro, N C., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a

corporation of New York Filed Feb. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 172,891 3 Claims. (Cl. 29--450) This invention relates to a method of winding a coil spring on a spool and more particularly to a method of unwinding a coil spring and then rewinding the coil spring on a spool.

In certain phases of manufacturing, it is necessary to wind heavy coil springs on spools. The winding is usually manually performed. However, as the strength of the springs increases, the winding becomes a tedious, tiring, and lengthy job because increased strength is required and diiculties are encountered in manipulating the spring and spool. Furthermore, the job becomes dangerous since there is a greater likelihood that the spring will be released or break during winding or rewinding causing injury to the workmen. In order to eliminate these diiiiculties, it is necessary that a safe and efficient method be provided for winding springs on spools.

It is a first object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of winding coil springs on spools.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of safely unwinding a coil spring by advancing a spool against the outer spring convolution and then rewinding the uncoiled spring on a spool.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method of unwinding a heavy coil spring and using the force of the unwound spring to rewind the spring upon a spool.

A further object of the present invention resides in a method of rendering effective guide facilities when the coil spring is unwound to guide the spring during rewinding.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention contemplates a method of winding a spring on a spool wherein the outer convolution of the spring is rst anchored. The spool is then brought into engagement with the outer convolution of the spring and a forceis applied to advance and unwind the spring. When the spring is unwound, and the inner convolution contacts the spool, the advancing force is removed and the spring winds upon the spool.

Additionally, with the foregoing objects in view, the present invention contemplates a method which may be practiced with a simple device for winding a coil spring on a spool. The device includes a channel-shaped housing having a base and opposed side walls. A securing device is mounted on the base for anchoring the outer convolution of the spring. Aligned slots are provided in the walls for movably supporting a mandrel on which is mounted the spool and for guiding the mandrel and spool during unwinding and rewinding of the spring.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l illustrates an apparatus for practicing the method of winding a spring on a spool in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus shown in FIG. l, particularly illustrating the channel-shaped construction of the housing;

FIG. 3 shows a mandrel utilized to advance a spool in the apparatus shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 4 illustrates a coil spring with a hole in the end of the outer convolution;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the spring shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a spool on which the spring may be wound.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown a coil spring 10 comprising a convoluted resilient strip 11 having an inner convolution 13 and an outer convolution 12. The outer convolution 12 has an aperture 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, channel-shaped housing designated generally as 33 is positioned on a support 22. The support 22 has an abutment 23 that is in contact with the housing 33. The housing 33 has a base plate 24 and a pair of side wall members 25 and 26 that are secured to the base plate 24 by screws 32. An anchor hook 29 is secured to the base plate 24 by a nut 30. The wall members 25 and 26 have aligned longitudinal slots 27 and 28 with angularly-disposed section 37. A Plexiglas or other suitable transparent or opaque cover 36 is placed across and fastened to the wall members 25 and 26.

Referring to FIG. 3, a rod or mandrel 17 has a core section 18 and manual gripping sections 19 and 20 at either end. Spool 16, shown in FIG. 6, is mounted on mandrel 17 with the core section 18 serving as an axle for the spool.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the method of Winding a coiled spring on a spool is as follows:

The coil spring 10 is placed intermediate the walls 25 and 26. The aperture 14 in the outer convolution 12 of the spring 10 is placed over the hook 29 to anchor the spring at one end. The spool 16 is placed intermediate the wall members 25 and 26 and aligned with the angularly-disposed slots 37 and 38 at position A. The mandrel 17 is inserted through slot 37, the spool, and slot 38, to rotatively support the spool. The ends 19 and 20 of the mandrel 17 are gripped and advanced toward the abutment 23. The spool 16 is brought into contact with the outer convolution 12 of the spring 10. Further advancement of the mandrel 17 causes the spring to unwind along the base 24 of the housing 33 as shown in position B. Upon continued advancement of the spool 16 toward the abutment 23, the resiliency of the spring causes'it to produce an increasingly stronger force in the direction opposite to advancement. When the spool 16 reaches position C, the spring 10 is unwound and the inner convolution 13 contacts the periphery of the spool. Upon release of the mandrel 17, the resilient force of the unwound spring effects a rewinding of the spring on the spool 16. During the winding of the spring 10 on the spool 16, the slots 27 and 28 in the wall members 25 and 26 guide the spool.

If the spring 1G should snap, the cover 36 protects the operator from any propelled broken parts. The cover serves to contine the spring within the housing.

When the spring 10 is unwound as shown in FIG. 1, position C, the inner convolution 13 of the spring contacts the spool 16. At this point there may be aligned vertical slots intersecting the aligned longitudinal slots 27 and 28 for receiving and retaining the sections 19 and 20 of the mandrel 17. Screw 39 may then be inserted through the inner convolution 13 of the spring lil and the spool 16, thereby securing the end of the spring to ythe spool. The sections 19 and 20 of the mandrel 17 may then be raised from the vertical slots to the horizontal slots 27 and 2S and released to permit the spring 11) to wind on the spool 16.

It is to be understood that the above-described methods and arrangements of apparatus are simply illustrative of an application of the principles of the invention and vconvolution of the spring,v placing the spool in engagement with the outer convolution, applying avforce to force to permit the spring to rewind on the spool.

2. A method of winding a coil spring on a spool which Ycomprises the steps of anchoring the Yend of the outer convolution, of the spring, rotatablysupporting and moving the spoolk into Contact with the outer convolution of the springwith sufficient force to unwind the spring,

4the spool to unwind the spring, and then removing the Y removing the forcer-whenk the inner convolution of the 15 3,007,239

spring contacts the spool to rewind the spring on the spool.

3. A method of winding a convoluted strip of resilient material on a spool comprising the steps of, anchoring the outer convolution of the strip, unwinding the resilient strip, and then releasing the inner convolution of the strip to Contact the spool toV permit the strip to wind upon the spool.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 333,773 Middlemas Jan. 5, 1886 41,057,622 Davis Apr. 1', 1913 2,833,027 Foster May 6, 1958 Lemont Nov. 7, 1961 

3. A METHOD OF WINDING A CONVOLUTED STRIP OF RESILIENT MATERIAL ON A SPOOL COMPRISING THE STEPS OF, ANCHORING THE OUTER CONVOLUTION OF THE STRIP, UNWINDING THE RESILIENT STRIP, AND THEN RELEASING THE INNER CONVOLUTION OF THE STRIP 